Catholic Family Connection: Wishing You A Blessed Advent! December Newsletter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy Advent!

December is a blessed month full of warmth, hope, and joy. Take time to wish others a "Happy Advent" and share your love for the Lord, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Greet each other with kindness, holiday cheer, and a passion for Christ. This month, in this newsletter, we hope you find ways to share your Catholic Faith, whether it is in a prayer, a gift, or by showing others the Christ-like joy you hold in your heart. As you light the candles on your Advent Wreath, remember the first candle symbolizes Hope, followed by Faith, Joy (the pink candle), and Peace. Click Here to learn more!

Please let us know how we can better serve you and your parish as we carry out our mission of evangelization to help parishes bring people to an encounter with Christ and a deeper appreciation of the Catholic faith, igniting a joyful witness of their faith to others. (Contact us at Family@diocesepb.org)

We wish you a Blessed Advent Season and a Very Merry Christmas!

Cathy, Deacon Louie, Beth, Liliana, Andy, Maria, Cindy and Rosario

Share this email with everyone! Together let us build, unite, and grow our Church.

BISHOP'S CORNER

Living the Truth in Love -

Let Us Give Thanks to Christ

Our King

by Bishop Barbarito

Weekly column written to inspire and encourage all Catholics to live

authentic Christian lives.

Click to Read

JOY OF THE FAMILY BLOG

December 2023

Building Peace

by Beth Zanotelli,

Diocese of Palm Beach

Family Life Coordinator

Click to Read

It’s like a do-it-yourself retreat, but you’re not doing alone — we’re doing it with you!

We hope you’ll join us.

Get More Out Of Advent!

PRAY MORE ADVENT RETREAT

BEGINS DECEMBER 4th

Inspiring talks to help you prepare for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ at Christmas. The Retreat is self-paced. This means that you can participate wherever you are and whenever you have the time.

2023-2024

Lumen Christi Appeal

“Faith Illuminating Knowledge”

View this Video!

Make a Donation

Visit our Diocese's Events page for upcoming local events, Holy Hours, and masses. On this page, you will find submitted events occurring in the five counties of the Diocese of Palm Beach. Events listed are hosted by a diocesan ministry or office, a school, or a parish. This is a good resource for finding fellowship or special activities.

Visit Our Website!

OUTSIDE THE DIOCESE

Click on images below for more information on upcoming events.

The Next Faith Café

Tuesday, December 12th

Guest Speaker:

Cardinal Wilfred Napier

An exceptionally warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth man with a ready sense of humor, Cardinal Napier is loved and respected by everyone who comes into contact with him.

The Faith Café sees Grandparents from around the world gathering for an hour to hear from a guest speaker, to share moments of prayer and reflection, and to be together in a social space.

Faith Cafe

HOUSE OF JOPPA

offers a fresh new take on traditional Catholic home decor, jewelry,

and gifts that

outwardly show the beauty of our faith.

Shop Joppa!

COMFORT & JOY

Radiant Magazine

2023 Christmas

Gift Guide

Something for everyone!

Explore!

HELP THEM

GROW IN FAITH

If you’re shopping for Catholic kids this Christmas, this is the list for you!

Catholic Link!

Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12

Ways to celebrate this glorious

feast day as a family.

The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12) recalls the appearance in 1531 of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego, a native who had recently converted to Catholicism, at a place called Tepeyac in what is now Mexico City. The Virgin asked that a church be built on the site. The local bishop was skeptical of Juan Diego’s story, however, and requested a sign that the request was really divine in origin. The Virgin offered the bishop several signs, beginning with the out-of-season and non-native Castillian roses that she gave to Juan to present to the bishop. When the roses tumbled from Juan’s tilma (or mantle), they revealed a miraculous image of the Virgin on Juan’s garment. Later, Juan’s uncle testified that the Virgin had appeared to him as well, curing him when he had been on the point of death.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron

of the Americas, pray for us!

Ways to Celebrate

Bambinelli Sunday December 17

Many parishes in our diocese observe this tradition,

check your parish bulletin for details.

The Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) has for many years been the day when the children of Rome bring the figurines of Baby Jesus from their family cribs to St. Peter’s Square to be blessed by the Pope during the Angelus. The day is affectionately known as “Bambinelli Sunday.” Instituted by Pope Saint John Paul II during his Papacy, the tradition has continued and has grown in popularity across the universal Church. Children are invited to wrap the blessed figurines in Christmas wrapping when they return home, and to place them under the tree, to be opened as the first gift of Christmas; thus encouraging young children to make the connection between the gifts they receive on Christmas Day and the greatest gift that any of us can receive, Jesus; and the connection between the Nativity set at home and the local Church where they worship each weekend.

Family Prayer

Embrace the Spirit of Advent

Blessing of the Christmas Tree

St. Nicholas and Your Shoes!

Experience Freedom! Unbound Prayer Ministry

Simplifying the Holidays

12 Days of Christmas

12 Books for12 Days

Learn more about Theology of the Body from Franciscan Online...for Free!

Diocese of Palm Beach Franciscan at Home

Click on the buttons below to explore more.

Marriage Preparation

Marriage Resources

Marriage Bootcamp

Find More Connection in Your Marriage

Natural Family Planning Explained

Infertility, Miscarriage or Infant Loss

Q & A with Palm Beach Vocations!

Click on the video images below to watch videos.

It's finally here! Sr. Jadwiga and Fr. Daniel are posting weekly! Check out their videos each Wednesday on Facebook.

Question 001

When did you know you wanted to be a priest/sister?

Visit our website

Inspire our actions Lord, and accompany them with your help so that our every word and action may always begin and end in you. Excerpted from Roman Missal, ICEL

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9995 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Phone: 561-775-9553; Email: family@diocesepb.org

Website: https://www.diocesepb.org/joyofthefamily

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